Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Experts Identify Principles of Wound Care Research

An 11-member expert panel and 115 wound care researchers have identified 19 research principles aimed at developers and users of new or existing products, devices, or interventions, such as wound assessment techniques, mobility/exercise, nutrition, treatment "bundles," or prevention regimens that are being used or will be used in the treatment of acute or chronic wounds. APTA is a member of the Alliance of Wound Care Stakeholders, which created the expert panel from its participating organizations.

For this study, the Delphi approach was used to reach consensus, using a web-based survey for survey participants and face-to-face conferences for expert panel members. Principles were rated for validity using 5-point Likert scales and comments. A 66% response rate was achieved in the first Delphi round from the 173 invited survey participants. The response rate for the second Delphi round was 46%.

"While some principles seemed obvious to respondents," say the authors," other principles elicited considerable controversy," such as the principle related to new products and devices entering the wound care market that are derivations of previously marketed products.

Of the 19 final principles, 3 include detailed numbered lists:

Research design should include parameters that are appropriate for the type of study (principle 7).

An appropriate but comprehensive dataset should be included in the research design to describe the participants (principle 15).

An appropriate but comprehensive dataset should be included in the research design for any study that involves wound evaluation (principle 16).

With the wide variation in design, conduct, and reporting of wound care research studies, the authors hope that the principles will improve the standard and practice of care in this field.

Free full-text of the article is available in the May-June issue of Wound Repair and Regeneration.